Stories to help kids look past appearances

Friday

Jan 28, 2011 at 12:01 AM

We've all heard the adage "Don't judge a book by its cover." As clear-thinking adults, we understand and agree that the content of a book can't be judged by the outward appearance of the cover alone; we must make an effort to read what the author has written and try to understand the meaning.

We've all heard the adage "Don't judge a book by its cover." As clear-thinking adults, we understand and agree that the content of a book can't be judged by the outward appearance of the cover alone; we must make an effort to read what the author has written and try to understand the meaning.

So why don't we apply the same philosophical understanding when it comes to people? If someone looks different from what we "expect" or "understand" or "desire," value judgments regarding that person's character won't be accurate unless we've taken the time to get to know who the person is on the inside, not based on their outward appearance.

Helping children to understand this concept and search to know another person beyond physical looks is an important issue, and the books reviewed today can act as a springboard toward further discussions in this regard.

Molly is in third grade. A recent immigrant to America, her clothes and imperfect English are the cause of great laughter and cruelty among Molly's classmates. Molly feels she and her family will never fit in, and it would be better if they would all return to their homeland.

When Molly's teacher assigns a Thanksgiving project, Molly's mother wants to help. It is through this project that Molly's teacher helps all the students understand what being American really means.

Based on a true story, "Molly's Pilgrim" is a moving account of how painful it can be when you are different from others. It also speaks strongly of how America has been built by pilgrims of many colors, from many lands, and of many beliefs. Well written and illustrated, this choice will evoke a greater sense of tolerance and understanding that our strength as a nation comes from our diversity.

Eastern Monroe Public Library, 1002 N. Ninth St., Stroudsburg

Choices this week: "Something to Tell the Grandcows" by Eileen Spinelli; "Houndsley and Catina" by James Howe; "Wee Free Men" by Terry Pratchett

There once was a beautiful princess and a handsome prince who lived in two separate kingdoms far away from one another. Both the princess and the prince had been blessed with unusually large features — the princess has extraordinarily large feet, and the prince had a gigantic nose. Because of their larger-than-usual features, potential suitors and young ladies were frightened off before they ever took the time to get to know the princess or the prince.

Fortunately, the princess and the prince both had a parent who taught them a song that assured them that who they were and what they looked like was perfectly good in every regard. And, fortunately, the princess and the prince met while on vacation, skiing in the Alps, where they fell deeply in love.

Promoting the important message about looking beyond physical appearances and getting to know the person inside, this rhyming book on accepting differences is first-rate.

One day, a very small hen laid an enormous egg. Suddenly, the egg broke apart and out popped a humongous chick. The very small hen, the rooster and the other chickens were befuddled; they couldn't figure out what the creature was. One thing they thought they knew for certain: this definitely was NOT a chicken!

After a hilarious romp trying to determine what this giant creature could possibly be (and the enormous chick easing their fears throughout), at last they all come to a satisfactory (and accurate) conclusion.

Full of fun, humor and a gentle message about misunderstandings based on appearances, "Chicken Big" is bound to both teach and amuse through repeated readings.

Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. See www.greatestbooksforkids.com.

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